Joel McKeithan enters his second year with the Grizzlies in 2018. Gateway acquired him from the Southern Illinois Miners on June 25, 2017. He played 50 games for the Grizzlies after his arrival, and quickly emerged as a consistent bat in the middle of the order. He hit .289 with 18 extra-base hits (five home runs) and 22 RBIs in under 200 at-bats, and he brings a seven-game hitting streak into 2018.

McKeithan, who turns 27 in August, played three seasons at Vanderbilt University before finishing his college career at North Carolina State University.

McKeithan was drafted in the 39th round of the 2010 MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies, but chose to attend Vanderbilt instead.